Doctors Who Ignore Consent Are Traumatizing Women During Childbirth

December 18, 2017

(Quartz) – From the 1980s, however, clinical research began to indicate that episiotomy should not be considered routine medical practice. It can be a life-saving intervention under certain circumstances but for most births, “snipping” does more harm than good. The procedure is associated with higher levels of pain, edema, bleeding and incontinence – and actually increases the risk of severe tearing. Today, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend against routine use of episiotomy. NICE’s guidelines on intrapartum care state it should only be done if there is a “clinical need,” such as to relieve fetal or maternal distress.